Women learn the ways of the water
<p><strong>Participants in the Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop perfect their strokes before they go kayaking on the Clark Fork River. In all, Beyond BOW had 22 kayakers at this event</strong></p> <div><strong><br /></strong></div>
<p><strong>Sissel Robertson, owner of Crazy Woman Kayaks, prepares the equipment needed for the trip.</strong></p> <div><strong><br /></strong></div>
<p><strong>Kayakers take to the water at Rocky Point Ranch to practice what they learned in the workshop, where their 12-mile adventure began. </strong></p> <div><strong><br /></strong></div>
THOMPSON FALLS - Becoming an Outdoors Woman hosted an opportunity for women to learn the skills of kayaking on Saturday, taking them down the curves of the Clark Fork River.
BOW is an international program designed to introduce women to outdoor skills, providing its participants with hands-on instruction and hosts workshops for anyone who is interested in learning or improving their skills from shooting and archery to outdoor cooking.
The kayaking trip was part of Beyond BOW, an extra opportunity the program has to further provide women with the opportunity to learn outdoor skills. The departure point for the trip was set at the Rocky Point Ranch in between Plains and Thompson Falls.
Cynthia Boehler, chairman of BOW, said the organization aims at “getting women comfortable doing the unordinary.”
“Sissel is our fearless leader today,” said Boehler about the kayaking trip. Sissel Robertson, owner of Crazy Woman Kayaks was contracted by BOW for the trip and provided an informational meeting, described the differences in kayaks and showed some of her favorite equipment that is essential to kayakers, such as a dry bag.
Excitement and anticipation filled the crowd of women before take-off.
Maureen Gleeson, a participant from Polson, had never been kayaking before and was full of enthusiasm before her first trip.
“I’ve never done it before. I’m scared that I’ll get wet and cold but other than that, I’m okay,” said Gleeson, explaining that this is yet another experience to check off of her bucket list, donning a whistle around her neck that her husband made her wear.
The women were able to choose their kayaks, making sure that the paddles matched up to the length of their kayak.
After a kayaking lesson by Robertson, the ladies were suited up in life jackets, and dragged their kayaks down into the water and began their adventure.
“While swimming may feel good, it should be voluntary,” Robertson said with a laugh, stating that remaining centered in your kayak is key to keeping a good balance and to avoid tipping.
The twenty-two kayakers set off on a crisp Fall morning, traveling about 12 miles down the Clark Fork River, leading the kayakers down the curvy paths of the river to North Shore where they were met by a Dutch Oven lunch. The lunch provided by the skills of Sandy True and Ginger Ward, consisted of chili, corn bread and peach cobbler.
After lunch the kayakers continued on their journey, ending in Thompson Falls.
True said BOW is a great place to meet women of all different ages.
“You meet all kinds of women you normally wouldn’t meet,” True said. “This is kind of an equalizer.”
Robertson said the kayaking was a great success.
“It turned out absolutely wonderful. Everybody had a great time and I might have had the best time out of anyone,” said Robertson with a laugh. “It was totally wonderful from beginning to end and we look forward to doing it again sometime.”